I'm typically not a fan of Simone St. James, but I found this book to be a quick and enjoyable read. It combines family drama with a hint of the paranormal, and each character contributes their own unique qualities to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love Simone St. James and I really liked this one, too. I liked the story, which was very fast paced. The setting was atmospheric and a little creepy at times. I liked the characters and the 1980s setting, too. I liked the explanations we get at the end but I do have a few questions that I don't think were answered which was my biggest (only) issue with the book, really.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightfully eerie read! A trio of siblings share a traumatic history - their beloved little brother Ben disappeared into thin air during a game of hide and seek. Each sibling thinks it was their fault, and they are each haunted by memories: Vail believes be was targeted by aliens, Dodie has nightmares about drowning every night, and Violet sees dead people. When Ben appears to call them back home, they reunite to find out what really happened to their brother all those years ago. REALLY strong plot and then the ending felt a bit silly to me 😔 I hate when that happens! Overall though I enjoyed it a lot. 4.5 stars.

Plenty of horror and paranormal activity as expected from this author. Some hints and easter eggs to her previous books and characters as well. An interesting deep dive into a fraught and at times confusing family history. Told from the POV of three siblings with distinct and interesting voices .

This is such a great pick for the long cold January winter nights. I enjoyed the scares and the supernatural element of it.

Simone St. James does horror perfectly. for me. It isn't petrifying, but it is just creepy enough that I can't read it at night!
I absolutely loved this one. Nothing will ever touch the Sundown Motel for me, but this came a close second, and it was neat to be back in the same town. I loved the siblings, their relationship, and the mystery that unraveled. Great read!

Oh wow, I enjoyed the connection to Fell, NY from The Sun Down Motel way too much! Violet and her two siblings, Vail and Dodie, are called back home after some 20 years to find their younger brother Ben. Ben disappeared during a game of hide and seek. This time they won’t leave without answers. This started slow, but picked up; it’s creepy and twisty. Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for a copy.

Simone St. James is the only author I will read who writes paranormal novels. While they are not ones I typically enjoy by anyone else, when she does it, I love them! This book was no different, atmospheric and haunting to say the least!!!

Emotional, sad, and scary! Some of the scenes featuring the paranormal antagonists were truly terrifying. I was a little let down by the climax of the story; it seemed to be over very quickly and maybe too easily for the level of haunting that was described throughout the rest of the book.

Atmospheric and spine-tingling, this paranormal mystery blends past and present with eerie precision. St. James delivers another masterclass in ghostly suspense.

Three siblings return to their hometown and family home where their little brother disappeared. Strange and haunting happenings are normal for the town and house. Will they find out what really happened and get out of there alive? A bone chilling tale!

The Esmie siblings share a dark past: their youngest brother, Ben, disappeared during a game of hide and seek back when they were children. They’ve each escaped their hometown of Fell, New York (St. James’s own Derry) and are all determined to avoid it as long as possible… until Ben appears to the property’s landscapers and gives them a message for his siblings: come back.

I absolutely *adored* this book – I loved the spooky atmosphere, the world building, the characters. I loved the way the story came together, with St. James added bits and pieces to build things up. I mostly read this book in my bed at night with the lights out, and then yelled at my fiancée whenever she would move and accidentally spook me.

I wanted more concrete information at the end, more of an explanation of Ben’s haunting, but had a fun time regardless.

I read this book so much faster than I wanted to read it - which, is definitely not a complaint, but I'm so sad it's over now! It was fun to see that this is happening inside the same world as Sun-Down Motel, and I loved this trip back to Fell. This was not, for me, the most creepy of St. James' book, but I absolutely loved the mystery of it and enjoyed the point of view of the siblings. Definitely recommend, and may pick this one up as a slightly late birthday treat for myself to reread when it comes out.

What do you do when your dead brother asks you to come home? You go home!

The Esmie siblings had a rough childhood. They had absent parents, a little brother who appeared when they were teenagers, debilitating nightmares, and one of them could see ghosts. Their love for each other, and their little brother, Ben, got them through it. When Ben disappears during a game of hide-and-seek, their world is ripped apart. After almost two decades without answers, they return to their family home to solve the mystery of what happened to Ben. However, their home town of Fell holds more secrets that will ensnare the siblings. Will they find answers or will they fall victim to the darkness?

I love everything that Simone St. James writes and this book is no exception to that rule. With just the right amount of paranormal mixed in with a good storyline and great characters, this book was a page-turner that left me wanting more in a good way. It is set in the same town as her book, The Sun Down Motel and it felt like I was going home with the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Simone St James continues to never disappoint me. A Box Full of Darkness gave me goosebumps and made my hair stand on end a few times. I really enjoyed the Esmie siblings and their dynamic. I think because the focus was split three ways, the two back burner romances didn’t feel as fleshed out or necessary. Overall though I really enjoyed! I do selfishly wish she would write more of her post WWI books, not that I don’t love her modern ones but I’m a sucker for the 20s.

Simone St. James' books are always an intriguing read. I read this book in two sittings.

Vail, Violet, and Dodie grew up in Fell, Ny. They were born into a dysfunctional family. They had a brother Ben who vanished when he was 6. As they ask grew up, they all went their different ways and vowed to never return to Fell. One day, they all get the call they need to return. As it turns out, Ben wasn't the only one to disappear or die under mysterious circumstances. The the vow to find out what happened to their bother many years ago.

I went into this book blind and I recommend doing the same. It started out a bit slow but then kept building suspense. In true Simone St. James fashion this book is full of suspense, paranormal, and mystery.

A big thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Expected publication January 20,2026

I can't resist a Simone St.James book!! Always full of frights and scares. This was no exception. We went back to the creepy town of Fell for this one. Home of The Sun Down Motel, there was some cross over, which I found cool.
This one had many twists and turns, mystery and jumo scares. I ate it all up in 1 day. I did see a few things coming, and I did feel like some things were not answered, so hence why not a 5⭐️. It in no way took away from my enjoyment though!
Thank you so much @netgalley, @berkleypub and Simone St.James for the advanced copy!!!

while i wasn't as spooked in this one as i've been in others, it was incredibly well-written. the relationship between all the siblings and the connection to Ben was so beautiful. if anything, by the end I was tearing up at what happened to Ben and how each Esmie sibling felt it so deeply. Vail, I think, had it the worst when Ben disappeared and it was so painfully sad when Ben reappeared to him. they should have gotten to be brothers forever :( I liked how Ben's death connected to all siblings at the end with Vail's almost possession and Dodie's nightmares. Ben deserved better, Sister can go to hell.

also, HELLO we're in Fell again!!!?? with mentions of the Sundown and murders that have taken place there!!??!?!?! i'm pumped now to go back and read The Sundown Motel to see if anything in this book was mentioned in that one. i love when authors do that!!! esp. since Vail went back to live in the Esmie house in Fell so I wonder if he knew Viv!!!

st. james is still one of my favorite mystery/thriller/ghosty authors to read. i have one book of hers left before I've finished her catalog. this is an arc but I'm already ready for her next one!!

Violet and her brother and sister are summoned back to their childhood home to continue the search for their brother who disappeared 20 years ago. Simone st James draws you in to the terror right from the start. The ending was a little weak after such a strong start. The characters were perfect for the story. I will continue choosing to read a new Simone St James book every time to be scared.

I’ve enjoyed all of Simone St. James’ books and this one did not disappoint. This book followed 3 siblings. Switching character point of view was perfect. You got to know each character and became invested in their lives.